Interconnections of implantable lead conductors and electrodes and reinforcement therefor

• US 20070142890A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Krishnan, Mohan, Durand, David, Zarembo, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,546,165 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 607/119
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/18 with the spring member surrounding the socket
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/12 for medicine and surgery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An implantable lead comprises a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion. The lead body includes one or more longitudinally extending lumens. A conductor is received in, and extends along, a lumen. In varying examples, the implantable lead further comprises a tubular electrode co-axial with, and overlying portions of, the lead body. In one example, a lumen wall is sized and shaped to urge an electrically conductive interposer coupled with the conductor toward an inner surface of the electrode. In another example, a ring member is disposed within a lumen and the conductor is drawn and coupled thereto. In yet another example, an electrically conductive connector couples a first and a second conductor via grooves or threads. In a further example, an axial support member couples a distal end electrode and the lead body. Methods associated with the foregoing are also discussed.

Claims

1. An implantable lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween, the lead body including one or more longitudinally extending lumens;

a conductor received in, and extending along, a first lumen;

an electrically conductive interposer coupled with the conductor, the interposer received, at least in part, in the first lumen;

a tubular electrode co-axial with, and overlying portions of, the lead body; and

wherein a portion of a first lumen wall compressively urges the interposer, at least in part, toward an inner surface of the tubular electrode.

2. The implantable lead as recited in claim 1, wherein the lead body further comprises an interposer exposing aperture in the first lumen wall disposed opposite the first lumen wall urging portion.

3. The implantable lead as recited in claim 1, wherein the interposer is coupled with an inner surface of the tubular electrode.

4. The implantable lead as recited in claim 3, wherein the electrically conductive interposer is crimped, swaged, welded, or brazed to the conductor.

5. The implantable lead as recited in claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the interposer mates, in part, with the inner surface of the tubular electrode.

6. The implantable lead as recited in claim 1, wherein the lead body comprises an elastic polymer.

7. The implantable lead as recited in claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the tubular electrode is substantially isodiametric with an outer surface of the lead body.

8. A method of manufacturing an implantable lead, the method comprising:

forming a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween;

forming one or more longitudinally extending lumens within the lead body, including forming a first lumen having;

a lumen wall portion sized and shaped to urge an electrically conductive interposer toward an inner surface of a tubular electrode co-axial with, and overlying portions of, the lead body, and

a lumen wall portion comprising an interposer exposing aperture sized and shaped to allow electrical connection between the interposer and the tubular electrode;

drawing a conductor into and through the first lumen;

inserting the interposer, at least in part, into the first lumen through the exposing aperture, including placing the interposer over the conductor; and

coupling the interposer to the conductor.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising compression fitting the interposer to the inner surface of the tubular electrode.

10. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising coupling the interposer to the inner surface of the tubular electrode.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein coupling the interposer to the inner surface of the tubular electrode includes welding or brazing the interposer to the tubular electrode.

12. The method as recited in claim 8, further comprising disposing a removable expanding mandrel in a second lumen positioned adjacent the first lumen;

and

urging the interposer toward the inner surface of the electrode through movement of the mandrel.

13. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein coupling the interposer to the conductor includes crimping, swaging, welding, or brazing.

14. An implantable lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween, the lead body including an internal longitudinally extending lumen;

a ring member disposed within the lumen, a portion of the ring member extending through an aperture in a lumen wall;

a conductor received in and extending along the lumen, a distal end portion of the conductor disposed adjacent to the ring member and electrically coupled thereto; and

a tubular electrode co-axial with and overlying portions of the lead body, the tubular electrode electrically coupled with the conductor via the ring member portion extending through the lumen wall.

15. The implantable lead as recited in claim 14, further comprising a securing member disposed around the distal end portion of the conductor and the ring member, the securing member deformed over the conductor thereby coupling the conductor to the ring member.

16. The implantable lead as recited in claim 15, wherein the securing member includes a crimped, swaged, welded, or brazed securing member.

17. The implantable lead as recited in claim 14, wherein the ring member includes one or more grooves to which the distal end portion of the conductor is coupled.

18. The implantable lead as recited in claim 14, further comprising an adhesive disposed between the conductor and the ring member.

19. The implantable lead as recited in claim 14, wherein a portion of the lumen wall compressively urges the ring member, at least in part, through the aperture in the lumen wall toward the inner surface of the tubular electrode.

20. The implantable lead as recited in claim 14, wherein an outer surface of the tubular electrode is isodiametric with an outer surface of the lead body.

21. A method of manufacturing an implantable lead, the method comprising:

forming a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween, including forming a longitudinally extending lumen within the lead body;

disposing a ring member within the lumen, including inserting a portion of the ring member through an aperture in a lumen wall;

drawing a conductor into and through the lumen, including disposing a distal end portion of the conductor adjacent to the ring member;

coupling the conductor to the ring member; and

overlying portions of the lead body with a tubular electrode, the tubular electrode co-axial with the lead body and electrically coupled with the conductor.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein coupling the conductor to the ring member includes disposing a securing member around the distal end portion of the conductor and the ring member;

and

deforming the securing member over the conductor.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising forming one or more grooves on the ring member.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein coupling the conductor to the ring member includes using the one or more grooves.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein coupling the conductor to the ring member includes using a conductive adhesive.

26. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein forming the longitudinally extending lumen includes forming a lumen wall sized and shaped to urge the ring member, at least in part, toward an inner surface of the tubular electrode.

27. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein electrically coupling the tubular electrode with the conductor includes using a preformed mandrel to urge the ring member, at least in part, toward an inner surface of the tubular electrode.

28. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein overlying portions of the lead body with the tubular electrode includes forming a substantially isodiametric surface at an interface of the tubular electrode and an outer surface of the lead body.

29. An implantable lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween, the lead body including at least one of a lumen or a slit;

a first conductor and a second conductor;

an electrically conductive connector having a first end portion coupled with the first conductor and having a second end portion coupled with the second conductor, the connector received in the lumen or the slit; and

a securing member disposed around a portion of one or both of the first conductor or the second conductor, the securing member deformed over the conductor thereby coupling the conductor to the connector.

30. The implantable lead as recited in claim 29, wherein one or both of the first end portion or the second end portion include one or more grooves to which the first or second conductor are coupled.

31. The implantable lead as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more grooves are disposed on an inner surface of the connector.

32. The implantable lead as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more grooves are disposed on an outer surface of the connector.

33. An implantable lead comprising:

a lead body extending from a lead proximal end portion to a lead distal end portion and having a lead intermediate portion therebetween, the lead body including at least a first and a second internal longitudinally extending lumens;

a conductor received in, and extending along, the first lumen;

a distal electrode electrically coupled to the conductor;

an axial support member received in the second lumen, the axial support member extending from an axial support member proximal end portion to an axial support member distal end portion;

wherein the axial support member proximal end portion is coupled with a first retaining member and the axial support member distal end portion is coupled with a second retaining member; and

wherein the first retaining member is engaged with the lead body and the second retaining member is engaged with the distal electrode.

34. The implantable lead as recited in claim 33, wherein the first retaining member or the second retaining member includes a couplable tube.

35. The implantable lead as recited in claim 34, wherein an outer diameter of the first or the second retaining member is greater than a diameter of the second lumen.

36. The implantable lead as recited in claim 33, wherein the lead body is fused or bonded adjacent the first or the second retaining member.

37. The implantable lead as recited in claim 33, wherein the second lumen is sealed proximal to the first retaining member to electrically isolate the first retaining member from a second lumen-disposed conductor.